Switched Digital Video Network Bandwidth Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communications systems face inefficiencies in delivering video content and supplemental information over networks, particularly in providing targeted content and reducing bandwidth usage while maintaining client-specific functionality.

Innovation Solution

The method involves transmitting video content and supplemental information over a switched digital video content-based network, where a head end sends only selected program streams to clients and supplemental information based on their tuned channels, using identical or separate packet identifiers, and employing a switched digital network to dynamically assign carriers and reduce bandwidth usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If all program streams are transmitted to clients, then content availability is maximized, but bandwidth consumption and network traffic increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent availabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments program streams into different groups and transmits only selected segments to clients based on their tuned channels. The head end divides the program streams and selectively transmits only the subset relevant to each client, reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption while maintaining content availability for viewed channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by customizing the program stream transmission to each client's specific needs. Each client receives a tailored subset of program streams based on their tuned channel, optimizing the content delivery quality locally for each user while reducing overall network bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If supplemental information is transmitted separately, then delivery reliability is improved, but network traffic and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery reliabilityVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges supplemental information transmission with the video content delivery by transmitting both on the same carrier frequency. This consolidation reduces network traffic and latency while maintaining delivery reliability through the switched digital network's targeted distribution capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a multi-functional approach where the same network infrastructure and carrier frequency handle both video content and supplemental information transmission. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated channels, reducing overall network traffic and latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If clients store all program streams, then content accessibility is maximized, but memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoidmemory requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transmits only the necessary program streams to clients based on their tuned channels. By taking out only the relevant subset of content rather than transmitting everything, the system reduces the memory burden on clients while maintaining accessibility to viewed content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting only the partial set of program streams needed for each client's viewed channels rather than all possible content. This selective transmission reduces the volume of data clients must store while maintaining sufficient content accessibility for their needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Device complexity

If all carriers are assigned statically, then network configuration is simplified, but bandwidth efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork configurationVSAvoidbandwidth efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic carrier assignment where the switched digital network dynamically assigns carriers to clients based on real-time viewing needs. This dynamic approach optimizes bandwidth efficiency by assigning carriers only when needed, while the network manages the complexity through automated switching control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8146129B2Apparatus and method for providing video content and supplemental information to a client over a switched digital video content-based network

Publication Date: 2012.03.27 TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC

AI summary

Video content is transmitted from a head end, over a switched digital video content-based network, to a client. The head end obtains a first group of program streams and sends to the client only a subset of the program streams selected by subscribers in a neighborhood of the client. The video content is contained in a given one of the subset of the program streams and the client is tuned to a channel corresponding to the given one of the subset of the streams. The supplemental information is transmitted from the head end, over the switched digital video content-based network, to the client, based upon the channel to which the client is tuned. The video content and the supplemental information can both be sent on an identical carrier frequency corresponding to the channel; they may employ an identical quadrature amplitude modulation scheme, and the video content can be broken into packets identified via a first packet identifier, with the supplemental information broken into packets identified via a second packet identifier.